Ukraine's power crisis deepens after attacks, nation urged to save energy
On Wednesday morning, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine warned about a potential power shortage following Russian missile attacks and urged companies to lower their consumption. However, the ministry assures that supplies for individual consumers will remain unchanged.
It was shared via Telegram by the Ukrainian Ministry that due to another massive attack on our energy system, including power plants, we might have to enforce restrictions on power supply for industrial consumers between 12 PM and 5 PM ET today.
In the morning and overnight attacks utilizing aviation and drones, Russia targeted energy infrastructure facilities across the Lviv, Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.
Brutal war doctrine
Since the onset of the invasion, Russia has launched massive missile strikes on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, focusing primarily on transmission networks and power plants. Russia's goal is to dismantle Ukraine’s energy potential by not only hitting large and vital power plants but also transmission networks, hubs, and energy corridors.
Destroy the potential
Ukraine, equipped with one of the largest power systems in Europe, relies significantly on its thermal power plants, which account for about half of its capacity. While most of these plants use hard coal, fewer employ gas and mazut. The most potent facilities lie in eastern and central Ukraine, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro, with some falling under the control of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics.
The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in June 2023 caused a major setback to Ukraine's energy and a significant ecological disaster during this war, resulting in a considerable loss of potential.
The safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains a critical concern. With its four nuclear power plants, Ukraine is a significant energy contributor in Europe, ranking third in nuclear production capacity on the continent. The cumulative installed capacity of Ukraine's 15 reactors amounts to 14,835 MW of energy, contributing to over half of the country's electricity production.
